Gov. Quinn in Washington after Los Angeles stop

WASHINGTON--Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn hits Washington Thursday to meet with federal officials and the Illinois congressional delegation.In the morning, Quinn appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" where he said the 14-year sentence for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges was "stern."

"It is a very stern sentence....It is a sad chapter and it is closed, the book is closed. "Illinois has to make sure that the world knows we have a reform governor who believes in honesty and integrity at all times," Quinn told "Morning Joe." Noting that former Gov. George Ryan was also in jail on corruption charges Quinn said, "we want to make sure this never happens again."

The office of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said in a statement, "during the informal meeting with delegation members, Quinn will discuss various Illinois priorities including the extension of unemployment insurance. Without quick action by Congress federal unemployment insurance will expire at the end of the year."

Earlier in the week, Quinn was in Los Angeles for a meeting of the Democratic Governors Association, where he serves on the leadership team.